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Excerpt from The Acceptance

There was something about an airport. People were coming and going. Some were heading out for adventure and some were heading home—just like Tyler Benson.

Nashville would always be home. He’d taken nearly three years to see the world and think his life through. He wasn’t sure he had a better grasp on it yet, but he knew one thing—he missed his family.

Why had he let his mother’s choices affect him so much? Things must have been pretty bad for her if she gave up a child and never spoke of it again.

The man in him understood. She was protecting him and his brother from what had happened to her when she’d fallen in love with an abusive man who tried to kill her. But the boy in him was still hurt.

Heading back wouldn’t fix everything. He assumed there’d be a lot of late night talks over the kitchen table as there had been when he was a teenager. His father already had offered him a good job in the construction firm which had been in the family for generations. And—he needed to finally get to really know his sister.

Darcy had been as shocked as Tyler when she’d learned who her mother was. After all, she’d fallen in love with Tyler’s cousin—that had to have been a little odd. But the Keller family was eclectic. It was made up of lots of adopted children, but they were still one big family.

His cousin Ed and his sister Darcy had been married over a year now. Their wedding had been the only time Tyler had been home in three years. Now it was time to face his parents and ask for some forgiveness, though he was sure they’d give it to him. Everyone understood his need to find himself.

They called his flight from New York to Nashville and it was time to board the plane. He stood and moved toward the line as a woman ran right into him.

“I’m so sorry,” she said quickly.

“It’s no problem.” He looked down and noticed she’d dropped her scarf. “You dropped this.” He bent down to pick it up and hand it to her.

The woman only held out her hand, but didn’t reach for it. Tyler placed it in her open hand.

“Oh, thank you. I lose more things.” She gave a casual laugh and continued on. It was then he noticed the cane in her other hand.

“Do you need an arm to get on the plane?”

She smiled at him, though her eyes were shielded behind big sunglasses. “Are you a nice man or do you feel sorry for me?”

That was quite a question, he thought. “Well, I’d like to think it was because I was raised right.”

“You’re from the South.” She thought a moment. “Tennessee?”

“Yes. Born and raised in Nashville.”

She leaned in closer to him. “I guessed from your accent and since we’re getting on a flight bound that way.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Offer still holds.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Tyler. Tyler Benson.”

“Courtney Fields and, Mr. Benson, I’d love to have you guide me if you don’t mind.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

He let her take his arm, though she didn’t interlock elbows, instead she held the back of his arm just above his elbow.

When they approached the door Courtney held out her ticket and the woman scanned the ticket and placed the stub back in her hand. She then did the same for Tyler.

Once checked in, they walked down the jet bridge.

“Do you travel a lot, Mr. Benson?”

“It’s Tyler, and I’ve been doing my fair share the past few years. How about you?”

“I’ve been seeing the world, though not intentionally. So yes. I travel quite a bit. But this is a special trip back home.”

He desperately wanted to ask her why she said she’d been seeing the world. Could she see? Was it just a figure of speech?

“Hello, Ms. Fields.” The stewardess greeted her as they walked on board.

“Celia.” Courtney smiled, having obviously recognized the woman’s voice. “I didn’t expect you on this flight.”

“I’m state side now.” Celia took Courtney’s hand which still held her cane and patted it. “I’ve heard we have your brother on board,” she said softly.

Courtney nodded. “Finally.”

“Your family has been in my thoughts for a long time.”

“Thank you,” Courtney said. “Oh, Celia, this is Tyler. My arm candy for the walk down the jet way.”

Celia looked at Tyler and then back at Courtney. “I thought you had an escort.”

“It’s always good to make a new friend. How’s he look?”

Celia scanned another look over him. “You did good.”

Tyler forced a smile. “Thank you?”

Celia laughed. “Courtney, can I help you find your seat?”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll use my arm candy.”

Tyler looked at her ticket. “You’re in 3A.”

“Yep, that sounds right. Where are you?”

“I’m in 4F.”

“You like the window too?”

“Luck of the draw really.”

Courtney stopped and turned back to Celia. “Can you see if you can arrange my escort to trade to 4F?”

The smile on Celia’s face and the look she casually gave to Tyler made him a little nervous. His good deed had warranted him a seat change?

“Do you mind sitting by me on the flight? I could use some good company,” Courtney asked.

Tyler thought about the past three years and wondered if he could be good company. But, like he’d told her before, he’d been raised right. And if the woman wanted to sit by him who was he to turn her down?

“If the other passenger doesn’t mind changing I’d be happy to switch.”

“I still like the window. I hope that’s okay,” she said as she walked toward her seat.

Once they were seated Courtney turned to him. “Thank you for picking up my scarf.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Thanks for keeping me company. This trip home is a hard one and it’ll be nice to have a handsome man to talk to.”

He wondered what made her trip so hard, besides the obvious hindrance of not being able to see the world around her.

“How do you know I’m so handsome? Celia might have been lying to you.”

She smiled. “Oh, I can tell you’re handsome. And you’re not married. I would guess you’re in your mid to late twenties. You were well educated. You’re about six-two. And you have blue eyes.”

He knew that staring at her with his eyes wide open wasn’t going to make her aware of how stunned he was, but for some reason he was sure she knew.

“How do you know all that?”

The smile on her mouth turned into a playful pucker forcing her cheeks to dimple on both sides. “You handed me my scarf with your left hand. You don’t have a ring.”

“You felt for a ring?”

“I dropped the scarf on purpose. You smelled good.”

That made him laugh aloud. “Okay, keep going.”

“I’ve held the arms of many people. I’m five-five, so I know my heights from there.”

“I’m six-three.”

“I was close.”

“My education?”

“You have an accent, but your words have a refined quality to them. I’d guess you can speak more than one language.”

“My father speaks French, and so does my aunt. I’ve always known both.”

She nodded slowly as though she were collecting her reward for knowing so much.

“Okay, those are all logical. How do you know I have blue eyes?”

“That one was a guess, but I was right. You just told me.”

“You have quite a talent.”

Courtney turned her head toward the window. “You also seemed lost.”

“I beg your pardon. How would you know that?”

“I could feel it. It felt as though you could use some company and I sure know I could.”

He wasn’t sure how this woman could tell so much about him, but she had a keen sense of the world around her.

The last passenger to board the plane was a soldier in uniform. As he passed by their row he looked down at Courtney as if he knew she’d be there and then he continued to his seat which Tyler noted was the seat he was to have occupied.

As the doors were secured the pilot came over the speaker.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be starting our flight shortly. I wanted to inform you that we have the honor of flying a vet home to his final resting place today.”

The air in the plane grew thick and Tyler could hear the many gasps and even sobs which had come from that announcement. He turned toward Courtney who had gripped her hands in front of her and pressed her forehead to her white knuckles.

“Are you okay?”

She lifted her head and he could see the tears streak down her cheek from under her sunglasses. Hesitantly she nodded.

“I’m finally getting to make the journey to take my brother home.”

Tyler let out a long breath and watched as this woman he’d just met turned her face toward the warmth of the sun coming in through the small window.

He’d gained a sister and felt like his world had ended.

Courtney had lost a brother and yet was thankful to be with him on his final ride home.

Tyler rested his head against the back of his seat. His life didn’t make any more sense than it had three years ago when he’d left Nashville. But at least when he got there his brother, sister, and his parents would be there.

What was there for Courtney?

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Love Love Love this Book and this Author

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com books@5princebooks.com

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Release Date: February 27, 2014

Digital ISBN 10: 1631120077 ISBN-13: 978-1-63112-007-7

Print ISBN 10: 1631120085 ISBN-13: 978-1-63112-008-4

Home Run

In one moment Christian Keller’s life was changed. Now as he picks up the pieces he wonders if he can possibly recoup what he lost.

Victoria Lincoln had a promising future with Christian until an accident took the life of her sister and left her as guardian to her two small children.

Their lives have gone in different directions, but Christian and Victoria’s paths will cross again. It will take a lot of change to pick up where they left off—if either of them can

About Bernadette Marie:

How to contact Bernadette Marie:

@writesromance on Twitter

Excerpt of Home Run:

There was a pure energy in the car as they drove away from the arena. Christian Keller had it all, just when he thought he’d lost it.

His career ending injuries were just the start to finding out he could keep going and that’s what he was doing.

He’d just watched his sister perform with her husband, on stage at the Bridgestone Arena right there in Nashville. Hometown kids making it big time.

As his best friend Dave pulled out of the parking lot the number one country song came on the radio, and wouldn’t you know it, it was Clara and Warner Wright, his sister and her husband.

Christian’s fiancée Victoria hugged his arm and slid across the back seat as close as she could to him. “That was the best concert ever. Your sister and Warner were phenomenal. The Broke Tourists are one of my favorite bands. And that Savannah and her hair!”

Ashley, Victoria’s sister, turned in her seat and looked at her. “I know, right? Do you think we could buy hair like that?”

They both laughed, but Christian just took in the ambiance.

His career as a baseball player was over. He had come to grips with that. It had caused him a lot of emotional and physical pain, over the past year, but now he had new things to look forward too.

They were already talking about him coming into the organization as management. The woman of his dreams had accepted his marriage proposal and wore his ring. And tonight he’d take her home, to the home he had built—for them. It was a surprise and he had something very special planned.

“You know,” Victoria continued. “Ali would love a Savannah wig. We should think about marketing them.”

“My kids and their tastes,” Ashley added.

Laughter filled the car and then a scream pierced the air.

A blinding white light forced him to cover his eyes.

Christian sat up in bed. His heart was racing. His face and hair were wet. And he was alone.

He threw his head back against his pillow.

Of course he was alone. He’d been alone for almost a year and the replay of that night wouldn’t give him any peace.

Christian rolled to his side and he looked at his phone on the night stand. It was five-thirty in the morning. He let out a grunt and rolled out of bed.

It took a minute for his knee to be stable under him. His shoulder ached, as it had since the surgery on it after the accident.

He flipped on the light in the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. The jagged scar on his forehead was beginning to fade, but it would always remind him that on that night he’d lost everything. His career. His best friend. And even if her life wasn’t taken—he’d lost his fiancée.

Well that was life now. She had a lot to deal with too.

Christian splashed his face with cold water.

Victoria’s life had changed drastically when that drunk driver crossed the median. She’d lost her sister in that moment. Her leg was shattered. And she was the next of kin to her niece and nephew, whom she was now raising.

A single woman trying to advance her career and plan a wedding was now guardian to a two year old and a four year old—and he was no help.

Christian turned on the shower and let it warm.

He’d been so overwhelmed with losing his best friend he’d nearly lost his mind. And it wasn’t losing him it was watching him die and not being able to get free from the accident to help him.

Just the thought of it made his heart kick start again.

He slipped off his boxers and climbed into the shower. But no matter how hot the water was, it would never wash away the pain that day still caused.

By six thirty he was dressed and sitting in his quiet kitchen having a cup of coffee. The dress shirt and tie made him uncomfortable, but it was the way he had to dress for work now. He supposed he owed it to his brother and uncle for stepping in and giving him a job, though he didn’t care much about construction.

His entire family had stepped in when he needed them. There was no way to repay them. His sister Clara and cousin Avery were at his house daily to make sure he ate. His mother stopped and cleaned the house. His future sister-in-law Darcy made him freezer dinners and stocked them for him.

It had been like this for a year.

When would it all ease so he could get on with his life?

Before lunch the door to his office creaked open and Darcy stuck her head in.

“I’m going to lunch with my bridesmaids. Ed is free for Chinese food. He said to send you his way when you’re done.”

Christian nodded. “I’ll be done in a few.”

Darcy shut the door and Christian was alone, again. It was funny, he thought, for being so alone all the time there were always people around him. That was what came with a big family.

A new Chinese restaurant had opened just down the street and Ed had been dying to try it. Christian figured it would be good for leftovers and that would warm up for dinner. It was just one less thing to think about.

“So did you look over that proposal I sent you?” Ed asked as he adjusted the place setting in front of him.

“Yeah. I don’t know if I understand any of it. Could you work in some baseball terms?”

Ed laughed. “It’s a baseball stadium. I thought you’d want to be part of that.”

Christian put down his menu. “You’d think huh?”

He lazily looked around the restaurant and that was when a set of dark eyes caught his.

Victoria waved and was already walking toward them.

It had been nearly eight months since he’d seen her—since he’d told her that he wasn’t someone who could just take on someone else’s children and start from there. That was the day she walked out of his life. God, he was an idiot.

She looked different. Her hair was shorter and there were dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept in eight months. He probably looked like that too. He never got a good night’s sleep.

“Hello, Chris.” She smiled down at him and then turned her smile to Ed. “Hi, Ed.”

“Tori!” Ed crawled out of the booth and gave her a hug. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” Christian wondered if she noticed her voice quivered.

“How are the kids?”

Christian watched as her jaw tightened and she kept her eyes on Ed. “Sam just turned three last weekend. He’s into everything. Ali just started kindergarten.”

“Wow.” Ed looked at Christian. “Kids get big fast, eh, Chris?”

Christian narrowed his stare on his brother.

“You’ll be at the wedding right?” Ed was touching her arm. “I thought Darcy said you’d RSVP’d.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Ali can’t stop talking about it.”

“I look forward to it.” Ed smiled and then both of them looked at Christian still seated in the booth.

“Guess we’ll see you then,” he croaked out.

Victoria nodded and forced a smile. As she walked past him, limping just as he did now too, she put her hand on his shoulder. “It was good to see you, Chris.”

Then she was gone.

Ed sat back down and shook his head. “You’re pathetic.”

“Me? Why?”

“She’s still in love with you.”

“She is not. She dumped me.”

“Because she had to.”

“Had to?” He picked up his hot tea and burned the pads of his fingers and then his throat. But it was worth it.

Ed opened the package of chop sticks by his plate and tore the two wooden pieces apart. “She lost a lot that night. Her sister died. Her brother-in-law died. She got two kids to raise and has no parents to help her. She’s all alone and all you could tell her was you weren’t ready for a fully formed family. I didn’t realize you were an asshole, until that day.”

If Christian was the man he used to be, he’d be up from that table and have pulled his brother out of that side of the booth by his shirt collar. But as if to remind him that he wasn’t an athlete any more, his knee throbbed and the pain shot up through his body.

“She didn’t need me around when she was trying to get things taken care of.”

“You’re right. Six surgeries on your leg and two toddlers at home is a piece of cake. Why have the man you love getting in the way?”

Christian swallowed hard. He didn’t need his brother poking at him. It had been a year and he felt bad enough.

Luckily the food arrived just in time for his brother to shove some in his mouth and shut up. Christian, on the other hand had lost his appetite.

He had become a pathetic loser and he’d lost the only thing that he’d ever cared about—Victoria.

He took another long, scalding sip of his tea. Maybe Ed’s wedding would be the perfect place to apologize for being an ass.

It wasn’t in him to be a father right now, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t be a friend. She looked as though she certainly could use one. And they’d been friends too—hadn’t they?

Christian tore open his chop sticks and broke them apart. As he picked up a pot sticker he thought about his parents.

They’d been divorced when his mother was diagnosed with cancer and her husband had walked out on her to marry another woman and have a baby. She was alone with three kids.

He tugged at his collar because it was getting hot.

His own father, who was at the time engaged to Kathy, still stepped up and took care of his mother. Damn, he’d even shaved his head for her.

That was love. That was commitment.

It was right too. His father’s marriage to Kathy lasted less than a day and he was back with Christian’s mom and had been married, again, ever since.

What had Christian done when the woman he loved needed him? He backed away.

He put down the pot sticker. Again, he wasn’t hungry.

They’d both lost a lot that night when that drunk driver hit that car. Lives changed in a flash—a bright white flash.

Ed was right. He was pathetic.

But he was done being pathetic. It was time Christian Keller took his life back—and the woman.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Keller Family series continues with Love Songs.

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com books@5princebooks.com

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Release Date: October 3, 2013

Digital ISBN 13:978-1-939217-77-6 ISBN 10: 1-939217-77-6

Print ISBN 13:978-1-939217-78-3 ISBN 10: 1-939217-78-4

Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/buy.html

Love Songs:

Warner Wright is looking for that big break into country music, but the reputation of his ex-stepmother is getting doors slammed in his face. But when he hears the angelic voice of Clara Keller—he knows she’ll be his ticket.

When the talented Clara Keller and the sometimes awkward Warner Wright get together there is a spark even bigger than Nashville. Opportunity is going to knock on their door, but fame can be a tricky bedfellow.

Making beautiful music will be the easy part. Facing Warner’s past might corrupt them both.

About Bernadette Marie:

Bernadette Marie has been an avid writer since the early age of 13, when she’d fill notebook after notebook with stories that she’d share with her friends. Her journey into novel writing started the summer before eighth grade when her father gave her an old typewriter. At all times of the day and night you would find her on the back porch penning her first work, which she would continue to write for the next 22 years.

In 2007—after marriage, filling her chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children—Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being published. That year she wrote 12 books. In 2009 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published author was born. In 2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, and has released her own contemporary titles. She also quickly began the process of taking on other authors in other genres.

In 2012 Bernadette Marie began to find herself on the bestsellers lists of iTunes, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble to name a few. Her office wall is lined with colorful PostIt notes with the titles of books she will be releasing in the very near future, with hope that they too will grace the bestsellers lists.

Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events—usually hockey. She is also an accomplished martial artist with a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. An avid reader, she enjoys contemporary romances with humor and happily ever afters.

How to reach the author:

@writesromance on Twitter

Excerpt of Love Songs: Chapter 1

Could the sun possibly be any hotter, or brighter, or…

Warner’s brakes screeched as he came to a stop at the stoplight he’d nearly run though. The glare from the hood of his Ford was blinding. The sweat on his neck was annoying. And the fact that he’d just been told he had no talent, well that was pissing him off.

He had talent. He had a butt-load of talent. Warner Wright had performed on every stage in Nashville. Oh, he’d performed with some of the biggest names when they were begging for a job.

He let out a breath. So why had he been passed up?

Oh he knew why!

The reputation of his family came long before he started trying to sell his songs. One thing about being the ex-stepson of Patricia Little, was all of Nashville knew she was trouble. And even if you were a thirty year old man, and you hadn’t had the woman in your life since your own father committed suicide when you were twelve, those things stick in the minds of some. It didn’t help that after his father’s death, she married a little bigger—a little richer—and soon she’d made it into the bed of The Ox, Harley Oxbury. The only problem was he was Nashville royalty—and married to Nashville royalty. The legend was when Christine Eaden found out about Harley and Patricia she put a shotgun to his head and threatened to dis-“member” him.

Did it matter to the world that his ex-stepmother took down one of Nashville’s icons? Oh, yeah. The Ox lost his career. Record companies didn’t want him anymore. The public didn’t want to see his shows. There wasn’t a product willing to put his name out front. Patricia Little had ruined the icon and her reputation, twenty years later, she was tarnishing his.

Perhaps he needed to change his name.

That was stupid. His name was fine. The woman was only his step mother for two years. By now the town should have forgotten the men she left in her path. Well they probably would have if she hadn’t gone on TV and done one of those reality shows where Warner’s picture was prominently displayed on her mantel as some kind of trophy of the husbands and “other’s” children she left in her wake. And hadn’t he asked the producers to take that down? Only a million times.

Well, some people were meant to be on stage and some in the behind the scenes. The guitar on the passenger seat was a reminder that he was one of them.

Although Jordan Farr, the head of Master Records, told him if he could get a voice to back up his music, maybe the world would start to see past his relation to Patricia Little. That had been the most positive feedback he’d received yet.

The light turned green and Warner eased off the clutch and onto the gas. The truck hiccupped and then picked up speed.

But in Nashville afternoon traffic, he didn’t make it far. Warner eased to a stop at the next light.

He could hear the music which the city had been built on. It poured out of the stores and the bars. But this music was closer and the voice wasn’t Carrie Underwood’s or Miranda Lambert’s. No this was fresh, sweet, original, and very close.

Warner turned his head to the right and spotted a woman in a Jeep tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. The song wasn’t one he’d heard on the radio. It wasn’t a karaoke cut either. No, she was singing to someone’s music, and she was magnificent.

She turned her head as if she might have felt his stare. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. The aviator glasses shielding her eyes reflected his beat-up blue pickup truck.

She stopped singing and smiled. And it wasn’t just any smile. It was the kind that came with a wink, if he could have seen her eyes.

That moment nearly stopped his heart, just as her voice had. If he had her by his side then the doors of this town would open up to him.

The woman eased through the intersection and turned right at the next light.

He had to follow.

Warner checked his mirrors and quickly changed lanes. It was a close call with a Mustang, of all things, and the driver flipped him the middle finger. But he had to keep her in his sight.

He made a right, but her Jeep wasn’t on the street.

“Damn!” He smacked the steering wheel.

But just then he saw the Jeep. The woman was climbing out of it.

Warner made a U-turn, again causing a car to blare its horn at him and a driver to flip him off. The heat must be getting to everyone. They were all in such a nasty mood.

She’d parked in front of a theater and was jogging up the steps.

Warner screeched to a halt in the middle of the street and pulled his brake. The woman turned around on the steps of the theater and stopped.

He climbed across the bench seat to the passenger door and hung his head out the window.

“Hey,” he yelled like some back woods yokel.

“Hey, yourself.” She had an accent. She was native and that might be iffy. If she grew up in Nashville then she knew all about the shame of his family. But he’d let that find its own moment. This one was his.

“I’m not stalking you. I swear.”

“If you say so,” she said slowly, but she didn’t make a move toward the street and he didn’t blame her.

“I heard you singing. You’re freaking amazing.”

She laughed and her ponytail waved behind her. “I appreciate that.”

“No, really. I know what I’m talking about.” He tried to open the door, but it wasn’t going so well.

She’d taken another step toward the door. He was losing her.

“Wait. I want to talk to you.” Finally he managed the handle and nearly fell out of the truck, which he’d left running

The woman had made it to the top of the steps and gripped the knob on the front door of the theater.

“I’m not crazy. Please hear me out,” he was begging, but at least common sense had kicked in enough and he stopped moving toward her. “I’m a song writer. I’m looking for a voice.”

The woman nodded slowly, but she didn’t make any more moves to run away. That was a positive sign, wasn’t it?

“What’s your name?” she called down to him.

“Warner. Warner Wright.”

“Warner Wright the song writer? Cute.”

“No, that’s really my name.” He took one step further toward the curb. “You have an amazing voice.”

She looked at the watch on her wrist then back up at him. “You gathered that from hearing me in my truck?”

“Yes.”

Again, she nodded slowly. “Listen, I’m going to be late. If you want to come in and sit that’s fine. But I’m out of time for talking on the street.”

She opened the door to the theater and walked inside.

Warner started for the door and then the grumbling of his truck caught his attention. God, was he this desperate?

He hurried back to the truck, climbed in, and parked it down the street.

Clara locked her purse up in her aunt’s office and headed for rehearsal. The man in the street had scared the hell out of her at first, but she’d lived in Nashville her whole life. Every song writer thought they had what it took to make it big. Some of them got desperate enough to hunt down talent. But she’d never heard of this approach.

He hadn’t come inside. Perhaps he’d given up. All the same, she had her cell phone in her pocket. The theater had once been gutted by fire because of a psycho man. She didn’t care to see that repeated.

On the stage was a small ensemble waiting for her arrival. Behind them, the set to West Side Story was being repositioned for the weekend’s production.

“Thought you gave up on us,” Duke shouted from the piano. “You only have four shows left. Don’t give up now,” he laughed.

“The only reason I wouldn’t show up is because it’s too damn hot in here,” she said as she made it to the side of the stage. She walked up the stairs and joined the others.

Duke gave her a nod. “Let’s just take it from the top and work the songs. Arianna wants these last four shows to be sharp.”

They had only started the first song when the door opened and Warner walked into the theater. Why she thought he might be a threat she didn’t know because looking at him now she thought he looked like the biggest nerd she’d ever seen.

His jeans were worn, his shirt was untucked, and his thick blond hair was messed up something awful. More than likely he’d been driving all day with his windows down.

He’d helped himself to a seat in the back and just listened as they practiced. Well, she thought, if he liked what he heard in the car wait till he heard her sing as Maria.

Warner wondered how long he’d sat in that theater, alone. He was familiar with the musical—very familiar. They’d just finished the number Somewhere. Damn, he’d listened to nearly the entire musical. But that voice. She had the goods!

“She’s something, huh?”

Warner jumped in his seat and looked at the man next to him. Quickly he got to his feet. “Um, yes. She’s amazing.”

“That’s my niece.”

“She has a fantastic voice.” Warner turned to the man and held out his hand. He didn’t want this man to think he was crazy. “I’m Warner Wright. I’m a song writer. I heard her sing in the street and wanted to talk to her.”

The man nodded. “John Forrester.” He turned and looked at the woman he’d followed into the theater. “She doesn’t know you?”

“No, sir. But I’m not stalking her. I just wanted to talk to her about singing.”

John nodded slowly again and pulled his hand back. “She’s trained with a gun.”

Warner swallowed hard. “Most women in Tennessee are, sir.”

That made John laugh. “True enough.” He patted Warner on the shoulder. “She’s almost through.”

He gave him a smile and then looked toward the stage and gave his niece a glance. A million words were said between them in that moment, he wondered what they were.

Warner sat back down in his seat and listened as they finished the rest of the show.

To say he was moved would be an understatement. A piano and a dozen voices could do amazing things.

When the group stood up they all began to talk. This was a family, a musical family. One brought together by a common love and the current show they produced together.

It had been years since Warner was in musical theater, but you never forgot the feeling.

The woman he’d followed walked away from the group and was headed toward him. Her thumbs were tucked into the front pockets of her cutoff jeans.

The eyes that had hid behind the shiny aviators, which were now hung from the front of her tank top, were dark brown.

Warner quickly stood.

“You followed me all the way in here and listened to rehearsal?” Her accent was drawn out.

“Yes. I have to say, you’re amazing.”

The woman nodded slowly, just as her uncle had done. “You’ve said that, but thank you.” She looked down at her bare toes in the sandals she wore and wiggled them. The middle ones had rings on them. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

“Yes. No. I—is there somewhere we can talk?”

She looked around. “What’s wrong with here?”

“Right. Listen, I’m a song writer and I’m looking for a voice to demo my work.”

“And you’re looking for lessons?”

Warner raked his fingers through his hair. It was getting much too long. He looked down at his attire. God, she must think I’m a hobo.

“No. I’m not looking for lessons. I’m looking for someone to do the vocals.”

“And you want me to do that?”

He smiled. Finally they were on the same page. “Yes.”

“I see. Mr. Wright, I’m very busy with the theater right now. I just don’t…”

“Would you just look at them?” He was so desperate he was hunting down strangers to sing his songs. This was embarrassing. “Please. Maybe just a few hours with me and you could see what you think.”

“You don’t even know my name.”

He dropped his shoulders. He was desperate.

He held out his hand to shake hers. “Again, I’m Warner Wright.”

She smiled and took his hand. Her grip was firm. There was no messing around with this one. “Clara Keller.”

“Ms. Keller, I would appreciate a moment of your time to show you my work.”

She pulled her hand back, tucked it into her back pocket and gave him a regarding look.

“Do you know where the Riverside Building is?”

He raised his eyebrow. “Doesn’t everyone? This is Nashville.”

She chuckled. “There is a Starbucks on the main floor. I’ll meet you there tomorrow at ten.”

“Tomorrow at ten. Starbucks. Riverside Building.”

“Will that work?”

He nodded. “Thank you. Can I take you out for a drink tonight? No business, just get to know you?”

Clara pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “Thanks, but I have one guilty pleasure and its on TV tonight.”

A bead of sweat rolled down the back of his neck. He forced a smile. “What might that be?”

“Reality TV at its worst. Every heard of Nashville Ex-wives Club?”

He knew the blood had just drained out of his head. Damn if he fainted this would be over.

“I’ve heard of it.”

“Never miss a one. That Little woman is such trash she makes me laugh. But I’ll see you tomorrow. Ten.”

He only nodded as Clara left the theater.

Well, this was over. Once Clara found out about his connection with Patricia Little she too would exit stage left.

Warner left the theater just in time to see a tow truck drive away with his pickup.

It was official—Nashville hated him.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

New Release from Best Selling Author Bernadette Marie~~Lost and Found

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com books@5princebooks.com

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Release Date: May 9, 2013

Digital ISBN 13:978-1-939217-54-7 ISBN 10:1-939217-54-7

Print ISBN 13:978-1-939217-53-0 ISBN 10:1-939217-53-9

Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

Lost and Found

Darcy McCary came to Nashville with some big expectations--to find her birth parents. She had no plans of making a life in Tennessee. But when her sources lead her to Eduardo Keller, her heart took over, and plans changed.

Eduardo Keller is a man who goes after what he wants and he doesn't have time for playing games. Darcy is exactly the woman he's been looking for to assist him in business and be his partner in life.

Because he loves Darcy, Ed promises to help her find the answers she seeks. What he doesn't know is that if Darcy finds the secret to her past it might mend her curiosity; however, it might also tear apart a branch of the Keller family.

About Bernadette Marie:

In 2007 – after marriage, filling her chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children – Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being published. That year she wrote 12 books. In 2009 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published author was born. In 2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, and has released contemporary titles and began the process of taking on other authors in other genres.

In 2012 Bernadette Marie found herself on the bestsellers lists of iTunes and Amazon to name a few. Her office wall is lined with colorful PostIt notes with the titles of books she will be releasing in the very near future, with hope that they too will grace the bestsellers lists.

Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events. She is also an accomplished martial artist who will earn her conditional second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do in October 2012. An avid reader, she enjoys most, the works of Nora Roberts, Karen White, Megan Hart, to name a few. She loves to meet readers who enjoy reading contemporary romances and she always promises Happily Ever After.

Author Contact Info:

@writesromance on Twitter